Flashbacks...

Today is Valentine's Day. And once again, I am sitting in my house alone, at the computer, reading emails, watching Love Actually on Lifetime. It's like I'm back in my 20s again (only it would probably be Sleepless in Seattle instead...) A time I like to call The Great Dateless Valentines Day Years. Little Known Fact: Josh is the only man other than my father to send me flowers (or frankly, take me on a date) on Valentine's day. How PATHETIC is that!?!?

Not me, mind you! I'm talking about BOYS! Boys who are not Josh or my dad. I have since realized that boys actually PLAN to be single on Valentine's Day....not that I can fully blame them (and yet, I do), because it IS kinda stupid to have to profess love on 14 Feb. And no matter how hard you try to have a romantic night, it never seems to be as romantic as you have hyped it up to be in your head. Plus, it can be waaay awkward if you are not married and thereby, forced to celebrate it. You stand in the stupid drug store for HOURs reading all those cards, trying to find the perfect one that doesn't honk and you're torn whether to send a card - or buy a gift...And I gotta get this out, because I saw them yet again this year...NOBODY wants that damn teddy bear with a heart on the tummy. WHY must I be the one to tell people this??? NOBODY! And, frankly, if they DO actually want that bear (I believe it might in fact be a Care Bear) you might just be dating a crazy nut job, and you should probably run for your life.

I'm just sayin...

However, this year is different!! This year I received a gift from TWO boys who are not Josh: Harry & David!! They sent me a box of "Moose Munch" as a thank you for being a loyal customer over the years. Yes, it is true. I am that lazy that I shop for the extended family at Harry and David for Christmas (and frankly, birthdays) so a LOTTA people with my last name and/or my maiden name receive "Towers of Treats," a flowering plant, or Fruit of the Month from us. AND, my laziness has not gone unnoticed! NAY! It was APPRECIATED. I must admit that I had never actually tried the Moose Munch because it is dark chocolate covered popcorn, caramel corn, and nuts....but it kinda looks like some sort of Moose fecal product. Turns out, Moose Poop is quite yummy. WHO KNEW!?

Anyway, my point was....I'm sitting here alone, eating sugar free ice cream (which isn't too bad, I gotta admit) with my two dogs. You'd think I would be feeling sorry for myself, but I'm not. I do not even have the tiniest urge to purchase multiple cats or a large box of donuts. (Okay, maybe the donuts... I won't see Josh until July. Where are my keys??) Anyway, I have realized that it is quite liberating to finally NOT CARE if I am alone on Valentine's Day. Frankly, after my ill-fated foray into action guy land last week, I'm just thankful to be sitting on the couch in my PJs with the boys. And even the threat of eating too much sugar free ice cream won't affect my happiness...

Until about 35 minutes later when the sugar free warning kicks in...and believe me when I tell you that the warning of "excessive consumption may cause an adverse gastronomical effect" is putting it lightly. As it turns out, "excessive" equals more than one bite. (A bitter lesson Minoy and I learned when we received a bag of sugar free Reese's peanut butter cups in Iraq....a lesson that will never be forgotten!!!)

Happy Valentine's Day!!